KUALA LUMPUR: A migrant smuggling syndicate has been crippled with the arrest of 22 people, including two suspected transporters, in a series of raids here.
Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban said the suspected transporters detained – a Malaysian and a Bangladeshi – are believed to be key members of the "Sojul Gang" smuggling syndicate.
"The operation began at about 1.30pm on Sunday (Feb 1) when enforcement officers intercepted a four-wheel-drive vehicle and a sports utility vehicle at a supermarket parking area along Jalan Kuchai Lama.
"Checks on the vehicles led to the arrest of six Bangladeshi men, a Bangladeshi woman and a Myanmar man, all believed to have been smuggled into the country," he said in a statement on Monday (Feb 2).
Following the initial arrests, officers carried out a follow-up raid on a condominium unit in Kuchai Lama, suspected to be used as a hideout and transit house for the syndicate, he added.
"Twelve Bangladeshi men, aged between 18 and 49, were arrested there. They are believed to have arrived from a neighbouring country recently and were waiting to be transported to several destinations in the Klang Valley and southern states," he added.
Immigration officers also seized two vehicles, several Bangladeshi passports, as well as RM82,100 and US$3,700 (RM14,593) in cash, he said.
All those detained have been placed at the Putrajaya Immigration Depot for further investigation under the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants (Atipsom) Act 2007, the Immigration Act 1959/63, Immigration Regulations 1963 and the Passport Act 1966.
"Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate had been active since December, offering services to smuggle foreign nationals into Malaysia via third countries, entering illegally through Kelantan.
"The migrants would then be transported directly to the Klang Valley before being sent to specific destinations nationwide," he said.
Zakaria said the syndicate is believed to have charged RM12,000 per migrant and is estimated to have earned around RM1.2mil since it began operations.
"We will continue to take firm action against any individuals or syndicates involved in offences related to immigration, passport misuse and migrant smuggling," he added.
